Tensions in Manipur escalated significantly on Saturday following a deadly gunfight that claimed the lives of three Kuki-Zo individuals in the Noney district. The incident, which occurred near Tajeikaiphun village around 9 am, involved a violent confrontation between Kuki-Zo people and Naga groups. This latest flare-up of violence arrives as the state continues to grapple with a fragile security situation and persistent civil unrest.
While the hills of Noney witnessed bloodshed, the state capital of Imphal was brought to a virtual standstill by a massive rally. Thousands of protesters from both Meitei and Naga communities gathered to voice their opposition against what they termed the “Centre’s proxy war” involving militant groups under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement. The rally, organized by a coalition of civil society groups including the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (Cocomi), saw demonstrators call for an immediate end to alleged proxy warfare and a comprehensive overhaul of security policies in the state.
The demonstrators outlined a six-point resolution that included demands for the abrogation of the SoO pact, the dismantling of militant camps, and a thorough verification of weapon stockpiles held by cadres. Furthermore, the protesters urged for the withdrawal of the Assam Rifles from border and conflict-stricken zones, the deployment of a neutral security force, and the implementation of a National Register of Citizens (NRC) with 1951 as the base year. The rally also highlighted deep-seated political grievances, with calls for the resignation of the incumbent government and the removal of Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen.
The security landscape remains strained as the death toll from a separate incident involving Meitei woodcutters in Sanalok on October 19 rose to four, following the death of Sorokhaibam Ibomcha at RIMS Hospital on Saturday morning. Meanwhile, in the Kuki-Zo-majority Kangpokpi district, thousands marched to demand the safe release of two boys allegedly abducted by militant cadres on October 28. The Committee on Tribal Unity has pointed to factions of the NSCN-IM and the ZUF (Kamson group) as being responsible for the abduction.
The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) organization has vehemently condemned the killings in Noney, alleging that cadres of the NSCN-IM and ZUF(K) carried out an unprovoked assault. The group accused the state and central authorities of deliberate negligence and complicity, arguing that the government has failed to protect vulnerable Kuki-Zo villages. The Kuki Inpi Manipur further characterized the operations of certain militant groups as a proxy instrument used for vested political agendas, placing the onus of the ongoing violence directly on the government.
Addressing a National Unity Day event in Imphal, Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh emphasized the need for a shift in governance philosophy. He stated that the state cannot be managed by prioritizing the interests of only one community, noting that such approaches undermine economic progress and peace. As the state administration faces mounting pressure from various civil society organizations, security forces have intensified their focus on the SoO camps. The tripartite agreement, which expired on September 4, is now subject to increased scrutiny, with authorities planning to audit all 14 associated camps after a recent inspection of one facility revealed that only one of its 159 registered cadres was present.
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